Greetings from Darmain - Page 6

David Roberts · #51 12-01-2010

Apart from this weekend, where I am free, the next date I can be available is Sat 30th before 6pm (in work at 7pm) for a group docs check.

Bob Hatcher · #52 12-01-2010

Guys, before you get carried away with checking new members PLEASE ensure that John T is up to speed, he has a large number of applications to process.

David Roberts · #53 12-01-2010

True....... sowweeeee

[edit]

5th Feb, 8pm, Cavalier Pub, Devizes.,,,

Dave S · #54 16-01-2010

Crikey, just spotted the edit there Dave, February before we meet. Thats a shame. Perhaps we can meet sooner and less formally if poss. What about Stephen also as you two seem (from my perspective) to be the two local boys. Your job is to get me to join!!

Dave S · #55 17-01-2010

I have a question.

What arrangements do people have with thier employers regarding call outs?

I sent an email to our HR officer and explained 4x4R to them. I pointed out that for small scale call outs during work time then it is clear that I can not respond. However, if there was a big incident such as the floods in Gloucestershire then there maybe more of a need to be away during work time. What, I wanted to know, was the companies policy on this. I have been met with silence with regard to this email, which is not untypical for her, or HR people in general.

Then I spoke to a collegue that rides a "Blood bike" and his view was that the company frowns on such involvements. He gets no support at all. Well, that kind of puts it in perspective I suppose.

I just wondered how this sort of thing works with those of you that are members.

Still intend to join though so no worries there. Got to have a life outside of work, that I firmly believe.

Teresa Nahajski · #56 17-01-2010

[quote name='Dave Sawyer' date='17 January 2010 - 09:38 PM' timestamp='1263764315' post='10579']

I sent an email to our HR officer and explained 4x4R to them. I pointed out that for small scale call outs during work time then it is clear that I can not respond. However, if there was a big incident such as the floods in Gloucestershire then there maybe more of a need to be away during work time. What, I wanted to know, was the companies policy on this. I have been met with silence with regard to this email, which is not untypical for her, or HR people in general.

[/quote]

I checked with my Personnel Dept who said they are looking into the policy for volunteers. In the meantime, take any time off as holiday or flexitime. Last week I chose the days I knew would be quiet in work to register as available for responding. But usually if it's bad enough for us to be on call outs they will have sent us home anyway. On the first bad snow day, I went into work and was called out at 9am so took it as holiday. Hardly anyone else made it into work - I assume they didn't take it as holiday! As I work flexitime I can make it up at other times so not too much of an issue unless we had a long term situation - which was starting to happen with the snow - 10 days of call outs.

One thing I did though was to let them know if they needed help in getting staff home I would be available for that - and offered to bring one of the directors in to work! Hopefully that will go in my favour!

And it is good PR for the organisation if they support this sort of thing.

Bob Hatcher · #57 17-01-2010

I am fairly lucky that my employer views us in the same light as the RNLI, Special Constables, Retained Firefighters & similar, in fact after a brief write up in the internal mag last winter they have been runniing a series on "those who volunteer" featuring all those roles that I have mentioned and several others. The general view is that if an employee is likely to go out of his way to help the community he is likely to have a similar attitude to work. They are fully aware of my role at both national and local level and seem to have no issues with it.There have been occasions when they've asked when I'm going to leave for a 'shout'. The biggest problem from my point of view is just to ensure that I don't run out of'holiday' -some holiday- otherwise I have to take it as unpaid leave. There've also been occasions, Pandemic Flu for instance, when thay've asked me for the latest info as they know that I have easy access to some documents that they don't

On the Wessex site we have a proforma letter that can be sent to employers - I am conscious that we mustn't take the mcikey, so usually discuss anything likely to last more than a day or two.

Tim Childe · #58 17-01-2010

I work as a trainer - so it kinda helps if I'm there at the same time as the students

The only down side to my job is the inflexibility.

Mario Caves · #59 18-01-2010

Hello Dave from sunny Chippenham (as you live there you'll know I'm fibbing)

Mario

Dave S · #60 18-01-2010

Hi Mario,

You were fibbing anaw. When I got home there was no sun, in fact it was dark. I'm most disappointed!!